Venice is 45 mins by train or > 1hr by bus from Padova.
I think Padova is trying to set itself up as a business airport serving the area.
Trieste LIPQ is similarly friendly (and has both Customs and Avgas, with a 5hr PPR by fax they say) but Padova is better organised for the avgas bit. Trieste is IMHO a far nicer city to look around than Padova.