The departments of the Republic of Guatemala are divided into 340 municipalities ( Spanish : municipios ). The municipalities are listed below, by department. Department capitals are written in bold.
2-647: Joyabaj ( Spanish pronunciation: [xoʝaˈβax] ) is a town and municipality in the Guatemalan department of El Quiché . It is located about 50 kilometers from Santa Cruz del Quiché , in the Sierra de Chuacús mountains. Joyabaj was an important part of the royal route to Mexico during the Spanish time. On February 4, 1976, the town was almost destroyed by an earthquake . Most of its beautiful colonial houses and buildings were lost and hundreds of people died. Joyabaj
4-467: Was also hit hard by the civil war that lasted about 30 years in Guatemala. The majority of the ladinos (people with mixed Spanish and Indian heritage) fled to Guatemala City . The town's fiesta is celebrated from August 8–15. Many activities take place every day. One of the most important and fantastic celebrations is El Palo Volador . This is a traditional dance in which flying angels (ángeles) spin to
#541458