It all began in 1933, in the heart of Naples, on Via San Biagio dei Librai, when Raffaele Russo opened a small workshop specialising in custom-made frames. Over the course of more than ninety years, that artisan business would grow into a family-run company, evolving to become a trusted name in the sale of religious articles, church furnishings, liturgical vestments, statues and gifts, both in Italy and abroad.
The Origins: an Artisan Workshop in the Heart of Naples
When Raffaele Russo first raised the shutters of his workshop in 1933, his main ambition was to build a solid business that could support his family.
He could hardly have imagined that the same business would survive the Second World War, overcome periods of profound hardship and accompany three generations of the Russo family.
From its earliest years, the workshop began to earn a reputation in Naples for Raffaele's precision, attention to detail and the quality of his artisan finishing work, gradually attracting an increasingly distinguished clientele.
Then came the difficult years of the war.
Naples suffered heavy bombing, and the Russo family experienced those dramatic events first-hand. During one of these episodes, the founder survived almost by chance — or perhaps by a miracle, as the family liked to remember — because he entered his workshop from one side of the street rather than the other.
An episode that has remained part of both the family's memories and the company's history.
Quality and Innovation: a Choice Born in the Post-War Years
The war and the difficult post-war period inevitably brought new challenges and new choices. Raffaele Russo understood that, in order to continue growing, the business needed to expand without sacrificing the craftsmanship and quality that had distinguished it from the beginning.
Alongside frames and screen prints, the shop began to offer sacred images, religious articles and handcrafted Nativity figurines, marking the beginning of what would eventually become one of the company's main areas of business.
The location of the workshop also played an important role in its development.
Its historic premises were located on Via San Biagio dei Librai, in the heart of Naples' Historic Centre, just a short distance from the Cathedral, Santa Chiara and the famous area associated with the Neapolitan Nativity tradition. A place where art, faith, craftsmanship and popular culture have coexisted for centuries.
The Second Generation: Gaspare Russo
In 1957, Gaspare Russo, the founder's eldest son, began working alongside his father in the management of the business. It was the beginning of a long journey marked by sacrifice, dedication, responsibility and a deep commitment to his work.
Running a family business means making difficult choices, giving up something personal and facing challenging times without knowing for certain what the outcome will be. It means being there every day, even during the hardest moments, and continuing to believe in your work as the market, the city and society around you change.
Gaspare Russo followed this path with a dedication that would leave a profound mark on the company and, above all, on his children.
In 1980, when he took over the business completely from his father, he inherited far more than products, customers and a workshop in the heart of Naples. Above all, he inherited a wealth of experience, reputation and values built over almost half a century of work.
The belief that nothing worthwhile can be built without sacrifice; that every customer deserves attention regardless of the value of their purchase; that work should always be carried out with integrity, even when no one is watching; and that the most lasting results are those built slowly, day after day.
Behind them were decades of experience and, above all, an approach to work that Gaspare had learned from his father and, in turn, passed on to his children: having the courage to change without forgetting your roots, working with consistency and considering customer trust something that must be earned every single day.
From a Traditional Workshop to Religious Articles
Over the years, the religious sector became increasingly important.
In 2000, Raffaele, Fabrizia and Fabio, Gaspare's children, opened a new section in the premises opposite the historic shop, dedicated especially to liturgical fabrics and vestments.
But it was precisely during those years that commerce began to change rapidly. The Internet was starting to transform shopping habits, while the ecclesiastical and religious world was also undergoing significant change.
It was then that a new idea emerged: to bring online the experience and extensive catalogue built over decades of business.
The Launch of the Russoraffaele.it E-commerce
The digital transformation began in a very simple way: a small office, just one member of staff and a project that gradually took shape through experimentation, experience and continuous improvement. Over the years, an increasingly extensive online catalogue was developed.
What initially represented a new sales channel gradually became the heart of the business, and a fundamental role was played by the people who joined the company, contributing their work, dedication and skills to the development of the project.
Staff selection has always been approached with great care. Rather than simply looking for employees, the Russo family has always sought people who demonstrated reliability, professionalism, a willingness to learn and the ability to share the company's approach to work.
Many members of staff have grown professionally within the company through daily training that included procedures and technical skills, but also product knowledge, customer care and an understanding of the specific requirements of a complex sector such as religious articles.
Over time, each person has gained experience and taken on greater responsibility, making a tangible contribution to warehouse organisation, order management, customer service, shipment preparation, catalogue management and the many daily activities required to keep an e-commerce business running efficiently.
At the heart of this journey has always been one firm belief: a company truly grows when the people within it grow too. For this reason, alongside professional training, great importance has always been placed on human relationships. Listening, mutual respect, trust and dialogue have been essential elements of the company's way of working over the years.
The aim has always been to create an environment in which everyone can feel part of a shared project, understand the importance of their contribution and gradually take on greater responsibilities.
Behind every order prepared, every request handled and every customer assisted are people who, over time, have learned to understand the company, its values and its way of working. Their commitment has also enabled Russoraffaele.it to face major changes, support the growth of its e-commerce business and look towards the future while remaining faithful to one of the principles that has guided the company since 1933: taking care of people before the work they do.
Today, Russoraffaele.it offers tens of thousands of religious and gift items online, serving private customers, churches, parishes, priests, religious communities and professional customers.
From Naples to the World
Another important milestone came in 2016, when the website was translated into English. A Spanish version was subsequently introduced, making the catalogue even more accessible to international customers.
From a shop founded in the historic centre of Naples in 1933, Russoraffaele.it began shipping its products to numerous countries around the world.
It was an important evolution, but one that did not change one of the company's defining characteristics: its connection with its roots. Behind every online order there is still a family-run business that knows the products it sells first-hand and carries forward more than ninety years of experience.
A New Location for a New Chapter in Our History
The growth of the e-commerce business brought new logistical and organisational requirements.
Larger warehouses, new operational spaces and a structure capable of managing an increasingly extensive catalogue and a growing number of shipments made it necessary to gradually leave the historic premises on Via San Biagio dei Librai.
At the end of 2020, the historic shop at number 116 closed and the business moved to a completely different area of Naples.
It was the beginning of a new chapter.
The New Russoraffaele.it Showroom in Naples
In 2022, the new Russoraffaele.it showroom opened to the public at Via Ferrante Imparato 198, inside the Centro Mercato Due complex in Naples.
The new premises were created to combine the requirements of a modern e-commerce business with those of a physical store. The approximately 250 m² showroom allows customers to see in person a representative selection of the vast catalogue available online.
In our showroom you can find a wide selection of:
Visit Us in Naples
Our showroom is located at:
Centro Mercato Due (D4)
Via Ferrante Imparato 198
80146 Naples (NA) – Italy
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday: 9:00 am – 1:30 pm / 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
During July and August, the showroom is closed on Saturdays.
Whether you are looking for a religious article, church furnishing, statue, liturgical vestment, Nativity item or gift idea, our staff is available to help you find the right product.
Since 1933, our story continues.