Originally, in the place where today stands the church of Santa Maria al Ponte there was a xenodochium, mentioned in a document of 841 A. D., with the function of pilgrim hospice to give shelter, material and religious assistance to wayfarers and pilgrims.
Next to xenodochium was a chapel consecrated, in ancient times, to Magi (protectors of the wayfarers) whom the pilgrims relied on before beginning or taking again their road.
This structure inherits the “mansio romana” functions, that is to say the functions of wel-come and refreshment sites, usually situated along the main road axes.
In fact it was situated near the old Roman bridge of primary importance in Camonica Val-ley, since it was the only connection point between the two banks of the river for the whole area. The real church was built about the year 1250, in the late Romanesque style, well testified by the bell tower with white marbre inscriptions and by the single lancet windows at the sides of the building.
Also its top double lancet windows preserve the original Romanesque style.
The architrave of the high altar built in “Simona” stone presents two inscriptions, the first more ancient, of 1350 and the second of 1629, inside e partition comprising figurative – symbolic elements, a Greek cross with rosettes and the crucifixion nail and the benedictory hand. The building was enlarged, probably in the 15 th century with the addition of two bays and rearranged in Baroque style at the beginning of the 17 th century and later, in the 18 th century, when mixtilinear “oeil de boeuf” are opened .
Recent restorations inside have allowed us to discover interesting frescoes, of the end of 14 th and 15 th centuries which refer to the devotional and artistic climate of the time.
In the presbytery a refined representation of “Madonna with Infant”, deliciously gothic, mu-tilated in the upper part, is set in a floral frame next to other pictures, some of them of the same figurative contexture, and in which are present various figures of saints, object of special veneration. 
In the wall we notice survivals of  a “MADONNA OFMISERICORDIA” and of characters, indentifiable with the Magi, representation in keeping with the ancient vocation of the chapel existing before the church.
The subject is taken up in the painting in the first altar, of the left wall “ADORAZIONE DEI MAGICON I SANTI STEFANO E SIRO” of 1609, by Domenico Carpinoni.
Others fragments of medieval frescoes emerge from the walls of the church, that, restored in the course of the, centuries, preserves a seventeenth – century painting of  “CRISTO CROCIFISSO” and the altar – piece of “MADONNA CON BAMBINO” of 1745 by Antonio Gualdi.
The little church documents a series of historical and artistic events which involved not only Cividate area but the whole Camonica Valley as a place of life, devotions and transit.