The Italian Figure Skating Championships are an annual figure skating competition organized by the Italian Ice Sports Federation to crown the national champions of Italy. The first Italian Championships were held in 1914 at the Lago di Ghirla, and featured events for men and couples. An event for women was added in 1921. The first artificial ice rink in Italy – the Palazzo del Ghiaccio in Milan – was built in 1923, which allowed skating competitions to be held that weren't dependant on the weather. Early championships often featured events in both speed skating and figure skating. Competitions were interrupted during both World War I and World War II. Ice dance debuted as a national event in 1969.