After the death of Peter I many of his future plans were nearly forgotten, including those concerning The North Capital. The numerous monarchs that succeeded each other to the Russian throne, as well as the groups of nobles fighting for power did not care about the Peter's great ambitions.
In 1728, during the rule of his grandson Peter II, the court was once again transferred to Moscow. But four years later Anna Ioannovna returned it to St. Petersburg. The city started developing once again.
By mid-century the population of the city reached ninety-five thousand. More than two thousand noblemen and the same number of merchants lived in the capital.
Districts for foreigners only were created: the English dwelled on the Neva embankment (later English embankment), the French - on Vassilyevski Island, the Italians - between Sadovaya street, Nevsky prospect and the river Fontanka (later Italian street).
In 1727 the first pontoon bridge from Saint Isaac church to Vassilyevski Island was built to facilitate communication.
By 1738 there were already more than 40 bridges over the rivers and canals.
Petersburg became the center of the culture of the nobility. In the thirties of the 18th century an opera and ballet theater was opened in the Imperial Palace and in 1738 a ballet school was founded which marked the beginning of ballet in Russia.
Active construction and the revival of Peter's traditions began in the city after Elizabeth's ascension to the throne (1741).
The Saint-Petersburg Construction Commission, one of whose members was Rastrelli, worked out the unique lay-out of the city and determined its central architectural ensembles. By the order of Elizabeth, Rastrelli built the Smolny Convent, started the construction of the Winter Palace as well as the rebuilding of the summer residences.
Petersburg continued developing as an industrial and cultural center.
In 1757 the Academy of Arts was founded. In the forties the first stone theater building was built on Malaya Morskaya street. The Academy of Sciences organized scientific expeditions to Siberia. The Imperial Porcelain Factory started producing porcelain. The first glassworks was founded.