Kevin L.
Yelp
'With great power comes great responsibility.' - Uncle Ben or Voltaire, depending on whom you ask
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A Butiega is, as far as we could tell, the sole general store to be found in the most central of the Cinque Terre villages. Located not far from the town square, it's right along the footpath leading from the main road into the heart of the municipality.
You'll find plenty of your basic staples here: meats, cheeses, olives, oils, vinegars, and wines. Similarly, must-haves like soap, shampoo, and sunscreen can be purchased here. Note that the prices on the last bits can be unexpectedly exorbitant. Whether or not that's due to the import costs or to gouge tourists is an open question.
This is probably your best bet to stock up on bottled water, particularly if you're staying in Corniglia and don't have far to carry the giant-sized ones. The wines are generally affordable, with a few bottles costing a mere €5. Don't have high expectations, though - even though they're labelled as Italian wines, I was nonplussed, and I'm no oenophile.
As far as monopolies go, the proprietor here seems to be generally benevolent, and could readily jack up prices beyond what we experienced during our visit. It's certainly a mainstay in this hamlet, and has a certain timeless charm that's worth experiencing first-hand.