PThe Bidente basin is a fairly complex and extended area: the higher course of the river is formed by its main branches, Bidente di Corniolo, split up into Bidente delle Celle and Bidente di Campigna rivers, Bidente di Ridracoli and Bidente di Pietrapazza, which join together up hill the village of Santa Sofia. When Bidente reaches Cusercoli it becomes Ronco river.
The highest part of this stretch of the Apennines is dominated by the imposing lush vegetation of the Foreste Casentinesi National Park.
Certainly this park offers the most interesting and fascinating tours in the region: its vegetation is characterised by a considerable amount of beeches, and a number of other nearly extinct species as maple trees, lime trees, wych-elms, ash trees, and fir trees as well, especially the silver fir type, that have been brought back to life and harmonically integrated with the surrounding vegetation thanks to recent reforestation initiatives. Also underwood vegetation is especially luxuriant: anemones, primroses, gentians, orchids, Turk's-caps and saxifrage can be found here.
As far as the fauna is concerned, the National Park hosts over a hundred and fifty different species: mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish. Among these, animals like wolves, ungulates, wild boars, salamanders, and raptors like golden eagles and hawks are worth of notice.
      The park territory that comprises the provinces of Arezzo, Florence and Forlì-Cesena, includes Sasso Fratino nature reserve. In this area the environment is entirely preserved: in order to allow the natural course of any biochemical process in vegetable matters natural recycling and transformation, nothing can be either touched or moved, therefore no entry is admitted in the area.
The protected zone of the park comprises the regional state forests: La Verna, Calmaldoli, Scodella, Badia Prataglia, Campigna.
The highest peak of the park is Mount Falco that reaches an altitude of 1658 meters.
Also Ridracoli artificial basin is worth visiting. Its formation dates back to 1982 when a dyke was built in order to guarantee a sufficient water supply to the Romagna area.
The villages of Santa Sofia, Galeata, Civitella di Romagna, Meldola and Bertinoro are part of the valley of river Bidente.
Santa Sofia, seat of the Community of the Foreste Casentinesi, Monte Falterona and Campigna National Park, is a town of medieval origins that bears witness of its historical and cultural importance, and is the hub of a network of activities concerning tourism, forest conservation, agriculture and handicraft.
Galeata used to be one of the legs in the journey of pilgrims on the antique road that led to Rome; it is in the centre of a very attracting cliff, among soft hills, fields of wheat and fruit trees.
      Also Civitella has medieval origins. It is situated in a narrowing in the valley and its wealth comes mainly from its agricultural activities, especially the cultivation of cherries.
Meldola rose on the remains of an antique village of suspected Byzantine origins, behind the town of Forlì. Nowadays it is a lively entrepreneurial centre.
The village of Bertinoro is famous for the splendid views it offers to the visitor that have earned it the name of "balcony of Romagna". Bertinoro is worth a visit and a tasting of the local wine: the famous Albana.