romantic city near Venice to use as a home base

If you've never been to Venice, I would recommend that you press on. Venice is unique, and going there on a day trip just doesn't compare to spending a few nights.

Try to stay in Venice but if there is too much damage consider Padua or Vicenza.

Thank you, we have been once before and loved it. Do you have a feel if the damage is too extensive to have been repaired by late December?

Vicenza is lovely and a short train ride to Venice.

Thanks, any day trips you would recommend from there other than Venice?

Vicenza to Verona is only a short train ride.

Thank you

Padova [Padua] is a wonderful town; the Prato della Valle the largest square in Europe:

https://wikitravel.org/en/Padua

We though Treviso was really adorable!

http://www.cappelladegliscrovegni.it/index.php/en/the-scrovegni-s-chapel/history-of-scrovegni-s-chapel

If you choose Padua, which i love, leave time for the Scrovegeni Chapel...by Giotto. Reservations necessary.

We adore Bassano de Grapoa with it’s Alpine feel.

I second both Padua and Treviso, but I don't know what trains or buses go from Treviso to Venice. Padua is a transportation hub.

What about Verona? I don’t know much about Verona vs Padua vs Vicenza, but Verona looks gorgeous in the pictures!

In order of time of travel:
Padova (25 min by train)
Treviso (35 min by train)
Vicenza (45 min by train)
Verona (75 min by train)

If you do decide to stay outside of Venice, which might be advisable, I would consider Treviso. Short train trip for getting to Venice and from the images on Google, looks romantic to me. I did a nothern Italy trip in May 2019. Padova was fine but I would not call it romantic. I have not been to Treviso, but I am just judging from the images I see online. Verona, which I also viisted in May is wonderful but farther away.

In Venice now (here for all of last week's acqua alta), most tourists are not affected by the tidal flooding unless they have ground floor accomodation. We were inconvenienced, but we experienced no damage. It's a different story for the residents, many sustained substantial losses. Venice on the surface (what most tourists see) is returning to normalcy. We have no thoughts of leaving and will be here through the first week of the new year.

You might want to read the "Venice: Good News" post below before deciding to write off staying in Venice. It contains the observations of a Venice resident.

all the replies have been good answers for nice places conveniently placed for Venice.

But your question isn't about convenient and nice, your question is about Romantic.

And honestly, if you aren't there at the times of the highest tides (tide charts help) I don't think there is anywhere else that tips the balance to Romantic like Venice does.

Do please understand how cold the churches get at this time of the year and dress accordingly.

Thanks so much to all responses exceeded all expectations