a revolutionary methodology for teaching reading, his book he called "Cartilha Maternal", published in 1876, was translated into several languages, and is still considered current in many of its aspects. A son of this place, João de Deus is still today a source of pride in the land of his birth. Messines' main claim to fame is indeed being the birthplace of one of Portugal's most famous poets, João de Deus, who was born in São Bartolomeu de Messines and resided there in the 19th century. His famous "Cartilha Maternal" was used to teach Portuguese language during both the 19th and 20th centuries. Geography It is a typical small Portuguese town, situated in the rising hills approximately 20 kilometres north of Albufeira, a city in the coast, and 16 kilometers southeast of São Marcos da Serra, a village in the Algarvean mountain range. The city of Silves, the seat of the municipality, is about 18 kilometers to southwest by road. The population of the civil parish of São Bartolomeu de Messines in 2011 was 8,430, in an area of 239.87 km2. Population Economy The economy of São Bartolomeu de Messines revolves around agriculture, forestry, retail, local government and some light industry. There is a large market held on the outskirts of the town, by the bus station, every last Monday of the month, and a flea market every second Saturday of the month. The biggest supermarket in the town is an Intermarché. Transportation The town is well served by both bus and train, with direct links to Faro, Lisbon and Spain by both rail and motorway. The toll-free IC1 Lisbon road also passes through the town too. It is about 50 kilometres from Faro Airport by road. Notable people João de Deus Ramos (March 8, 1830 – January 11, 1896), better known as João de Deus, a Portuguese poet who turned his attention to Portuguese educational problems and wrote the famous didactic book Cartilha Maternal (1876), used to teach Portuguese language during both the 19th and 20th centuries across the country. Maria Alves da Silva Cavaco Silva (born 19 March 1938), wife of Aníbal Cavaco Silva, the 19th President of the Portuguese Republic and, as such, the First Lady of Portugal from 2006 until 2016. Remexido or Remechido, the nickname of José Joaquim de Sousa Reis (Estômbar, 19 October 1796 – Faro, 2 August 1838), a civil servant and wealthy