Although it was located only about 80 kilometers (50 mi) from the Inca capital inCusco, the Spanish never found Machu Picchu and so did not plunder or destroy it, as they did many other sites.[11] The conquistadors had notes of a place calledPiccho, although no record of a Spanish visit exists. The types of sacred rocks defaced by the conquistadors in other locations are untouched at Machu Picchu.[9]